One of my Wall Warts says Switching adapter? What does that mean? I have one with that on the Power Supply. I also have a bunch with 12v DC output at one amp. I was thinking of using those to power my LEDs. All my LEDs are 12v.
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Most wallwarts are AC- to DC unregulated- the stated output is at the stated current draw. The innards are a transformer, rectifier(AC-DC), and a capacitor that makes the DC into "pure" DC. If a wall wart says "switching adapter" it has electronics that convert the AC to DC. Advantage is that the output will always be the stated output volts--even at zero load. The conventional unit's output volts will be higher at zero load. Hope this simple explanation helps---
I just wonted to add that wall-worts are great but they have a built in fuse. If you blow the fuse you must take the unit apart. Radio Shack has replacements, but what I do if there is enough real estate is install a small glass fuse holder. So in that way you don't have to toss your device and should you have another short, or blown fuse the fix is fast and easy.
My 12 VDC put out 14 at zero load. I have a nifty Step down converter that will take AC or DC in and out DC depending on where I set the POT. Since I was running form the Transformer through the Stepdown Converter, I just left the converter inline and substituted the 12VDC wall wart. I have approximately 35 - 20mAh LEDs on it. The Wall Wart say it will go up to 1 amp. I have another Wall Wart and Stepdown converter which I will get hooked up later this week for more LEDs.
I just go a book Make:Electronics by Charles Platt. I am going to read through that and do some of the exercises so I can come out of my cave on some of these questions I have. The book slogan says "Burn things out, mess things up, That is how you learn"
Hey TMack, if that slogan of yours is true then I must be a total genius.
Your total draw for those 35 LED's is 700 mah, or roughly 2/3's of the one amp capability of your Wall-Wort. That is a good place to be so as not to over heat it.
Keep up the good work and have fun.
Originally Posted by gg1man:
Hey TMack, if that slogan of yours is true then I must be a total genius.
Your total draw for those 35 LED's is 700 mah, or roughly 2/3's of the one amp capability of your Wall-Wort. That is a good place to be so as not to over heat it.
Keep up the good work and have fun.
Thanks, I have one more 1 amp and a 1.2 amp, but I am running out of LEDs.
-Ted
